ORIGIN - Not a Mourning Report

Nemo

So.

He'd not appreciated being called an it, and shooed out of the meeting like some sort of pest. A statement would have sufficed, and he doesn't quite like that Sentinel one's weapon... it makes his feathers twist in concern.

When he's allowed back in - and doesn't that make his brow crinkle in irritation as well, an alliance laying claim to an entire cave - he gets another good look at everyone there, not even bothering to hide his stares and the way he looks some of the glowing, oddly arranged members up and down. He might draw them later, if he can find some new paints.

There's blood, then, on the floor while he walks, his talking clacking and blue bauble swinging in a silence that feels like the Tunnel right outside Monoceros... something right outside some sort of raging conflict. Maybe it was... better he wasn't involved.

Now to get Master Vargas's attention, and hope nothing tries to eat him, especially not the hissing, aggressive mass that seems attached to the spire of crystal in the center of the room. One the Leviathan is alone, he makes his way over and opens a wing to catch the other's attention, new longer tail frilling out as he moves to keep him balanced.

"Master Vargas? May I speak to you very quickly? I have some updates about Ursa." The tall, blue elf gets another look as she passes by him, maybe? If she glances in his direction his crest fluffs up in alarm, making him look like some sort of mohawk-wearing blushing teenager, so he offers her a quick but deep bob of his head before continuing on.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Ursa-? he thought, turning to face the voice. He found it not at eye level, or even halfway down--but at the ground, one of the birds, he thought--yes; this was one of those birds that had come to the ill-fated incursion into the snowy cave.

Vargas ran, quickly, over what he knew: that everyone had gotten out (eventually); that Order's minions had not been pushed out (unfortunately); but that their location was at least restricted to Ursa (for now). What other developments had there been, since then, he wondered-?

Of all the things to crop up now, a renewal of Order's assault would possibly be the worst. "Speak," he said quickly, turning away from the others awaiting audience, six acid eyes sharp on Nemo's own. His tone held not command but concern: it was permission he was granting, not orders.

He hoped the news was not too bad.

@Nemo

Nemo

One of the few times he wished he could hover in air while flying, so that he could speak to Vargas on an eye level, he does his best to straighten up so that the large purple hulk won't have to fold double. It does... nothing, really, but his intent is there.

"Nothing new, so far- I've been making it a habit to check Ursa every so often after I re-emerged," he tilts his head, a tad embarrassed, and lifts a wing joint to fiddle with his bauble, new thumb visible as he does so and twists the gem. "I haven't seen movement, but Giggle and Wyvern, the two Gembound that uh..." he tilts his head more, then to look over at wherever Dracouna is. She can't be hard to find, after all. "Were left behind. Neither were covered in fungus, either, so we seem to be good. For now. I don't know if you knew any of that, but I felt bad after the whole thing fell apart so quickly so I figured I owed you some sort of report... and apology. On my end, at least."

Another deep sigh, and he looks back up at Vargas, wing dropping from his bauble. "I will admit that I was one of a few to swoop at Dracouna after her... rash attempt to kill the worm. "

His next deep sigh is followed by a quick and brisk breeze that whips past their ankles and feet, and the lammergeier eyes the area where the breeze had played as if feeling betrayed.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas listened with some surprise. Nemo had been watching Ursa, all this time? For cycles? In retrospect, it seemed like something he should have done; set a spy, a scout, to watch for Order's pawns. But then, he had no one with Nemo's magic, did he? -Did Nemo have the fungal magic? (Vargas simply assumed that all of those in Canis did; that group seemed obsessed with bones and mushrooms.)

Thoughtful, he grunted.

"You are both resourceful and dutiful to have been watching over Ursa without a command," he began, slowly. There was genuine respect for Nemo's decision--a decision that could have averted danger that Vargas might have let go unseen. "I had heard of their escape, but it is good to have it confirmed that they were uninfected. What are you apologizing for-? That was Tahi-shei's failure, and it was mine, not yours. He claimed that you all had trained, and I took him at his word. He was wrong, and I should have tested you all first, or at least asked what that training entailed." Speaking of Tahi-Shei...

Vargas paused, thoughtful, studying Nemo closely. "Tell me--the bone reader claimed that Tahi-Shei had something to do with her escape. That he was not himself present, but that she owed him her survival. And I have not seen him since. Do you know anything of this-?" he added.

It had sounded ominous, and bothered him, at the time--Giggle had sounded suspicious of it, herself. (Actually, her exact words had been 'I have no fucking idea why.')

As for the mention of Draconua... "If she had not killed it, you would likely all be dead--but I am well aware there were those who did not like her methods. She is... let us say, on probation." No mention, then, of Nemo's involvement; he simply pushed on.

"You were one of those that called themselves Bonebound, yes-? I am busy right now, but tell me; do you intend to continue watching Ursa? Do you seek a reward for your efforts thus far?" He wasn't sure what he could award a creature not of the Forge; but maybe it had something in mind.

@Nemo

Nemo

The predator bird is watching Vargas carefully as the large purple Master begins to speak, a part of him feeling worried if there will be consequences for his attempt at attacking a member of his group, or if there... won't be.

Praise, however, catches the lammie visibly off guard, and his crest flares up in surprise at the Master's words and continued speech. The mention of a bone-reader instantly brings Giggle to mind, and when he realizes Vargas had already spoken to her and thus, knew she and the other had made it home, he's a bit... ashamed for having made the flight all the way over here with a bit of a repeat of information he already knew.

Tahi-shei, though... "I haven't seen him either, to be very honest. I've been busy figuring out how to fly again, and then the patrolling I mentioned- I'll try and find him to ask, though. Giggle mentioned that as well when I walked her home, so I guess that's next on my list of things to find out." He rubs at his beak, like someone would rub at their nose when nervous, then shakes himself out.

He does nod along when Draconua is mentioned as having killed the creature, and they would have been in quite a lot of trouble. "I do agree we would have been in a lot of trouble without her there as well, but I have a plan for if that ever happens again since I can create almost an... explosion of sorts with my magic. Maybe that will draw any such beasts away. So we don't have to risk the whole group of us next time something like that happens."

"I uh-" he's a smidge taken aback at the offer of some sort of reward... what does that mean, anyway? He hadn't expected anything had done the patrolling more out of his own anxiety than anything else, but... "Can I ask to be given time to think on the.. reward? If not, that's fine, I just can't think of anything I want or need right now. But thank you. I... do want to continue patrolling, yes, but I'd like some help. Anyone who can handle the cold to watch the other Tunnel, so I might be able to not run myself ragged back into my chrysalis again... heh." The raptor is feeling awkward, and his body language shows as much, but he's being as honest and straightforward as he can- the Master had said he was busy, after all.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas studied Nemo, considering.

"Your group--yourself, the bone reader, those in Canis--some of you were at the Orion gathering, yes?" he asked.

He had thoughts, ideas, coalescing; and his words took on a slower, thoughtful note as he continued. "The Chaos Forge will be hosting... activities, in the future. Astraea will be visiting here, teaching others to read--so if any of your people are interested, tell them to keep an eye out for that. But I wonder if a form of partnership would not benefit your group." Those few of the Bonebound that Vargas had met had seemed useful, and if this bird was true to his word, helping it guard Ursa was the least that Vargas could do. But how-? None of the Forge were thick-furred beasts, and none bore the magic of fungus that the Bonebound did.

"I think it would be best to either recruit, or create, creatures who can both tolerate the cold and see that fungus Dontacael is using," he mused. "What I am thinking is the creation of such creatures. Tell me something, bird; do you bear the authority to speak on behalf of your group? If I were to ask you if you and yours would be willing to take control of guarding Ursa, of training those who would destroy the thing they call Mother--would they be interested? I can grant your people a creation, or two; they would be under your authority, but you would need to train them and command them. They could guard both your people and Ursa as you see fit, but in return you would keep Ursa guarded. Do you have the authority to agree to this?" Vargas asked.

Delegating the troubles of Ursa away would be useful--he'd have to check in on them, of course, and ensure that they were actually guarding against Order's incursion, but it would be doable, he thought. Hand the Bonebound a couple snow-clad, fungus-using beasts, and let them do the rest. It was a risk, if the Bonebound ever turned rebel, but he didn't think they would. They seemed rather too neutral, for that.

"As for a personal reward, yes, that can wait, either way," he agreed, indifferently.

@Nemo

Nemo

The question gets a quick nod - the change in Vargas's tone catching his attention more than any booming volume should. The raptor's nerves seem to melt away under his concentration aimed at the Master, and he manages to meet the toxic green eyes above his eyes for a few moments before he glances away, across Draco. The moving room is confusing okay?

A mention of learning, though, different types of reading and an offer of partnership gets his eyes right back to toxic green, and he tilts his head in consideration. Another nod, this one thoughtful, and he lifts his wing to fidget once again with his bauble. "I'm sure everyone would be excited to hear that - I'll let them know when I go home..." But he trails off quickly as the leviathan continues.

Create... Recruit he gets, but to have children simply for war makes his feathers crawl, and mildly bristle with that discomfort.

"I-" he seems a bit taken aback, again, but he's thinking, shifting slightly in place as he continues, "I don't have the authority to agree, no. Not for the whole of The Bonebound. But I can agree for myself at least. I know I want whatever Mother claims to be dealt with. I'm sorry I can't give you any definitive answers, but I can say I'll bring answers back as quickly as I can." The dark painted predator bird has an air of determination about him, now, overriding the anxiety that had seemed to drip off of him not a few moments before. Seems a plan helps with more than just external questions for this bird.

"But again, thank you for giving me time to think. For both my request and... everything else. I don't want to make decisions that would result in more harm than good, really." Nemo takes a deep breath, and tilts his head sideways and up in thought. "I have one more question, then, before I go - I know you're busy. It regards some magic that it seems your group carries... it... messes with people. It messed with me during the attempt in Ursa. I don't feel it anymore, but I need to ask. How worried do we need to be about that effect, on the rest of us who don't use it?"

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Magic-?

'Messes with people?'

Vargas peered blankly, then let out a short guffaw. "That is the magic of our Creator-! The original magic of these caves. Those of you who were created without it can be converted to it, though its effects are sometimes chaotic. It is a far stronger power than those you and I carry," he explained.

He offered a nod, then. "Go and find out. Come back to me when you know. I will speak to you then."

It was an amiable enough departure--but it was clear that the Leviathan was done, here.

exit Vargas
@Nemo

Nemo

The amusement catches him off guard- but he relaxes when the Master seems non-plussed about his concerns. Of course, the response gives him more questions than answers, but what it does is remove his main concern for sanity. One less anxiety about the Raid, and some new ideas and desires rising up in his chest and magic as he's dismissed.

Or at least this feels like a dismissal, so he stows his questions and opens his wings, bobbing his head in a farewell before taking to the air with a hop and sharp snap of his wings. Gaining a few feet of height before turning, he calls, "Goodbye then, Master Vargas, I'll see you when I have answers!" before he makes his way as quickly as he can out the aperture and back home.

;;Exit Nemo