ORIGIN

The battle was heating up, in more ways than one. Raheerah was under greater stress each passing moment- and though Cancer had aimed to round on him, the beast suddenly exploded- blood rained down and coated everyone within range, showering Cancer in sticky red and triggering that fear deep within. Covered, the cat recoiled, just in time to go blind from the choking smoke. He was thankful for it, despite the burning sensation in his throat- but a second later, the cat had more to worry about. That massive tail slammed through the smoke beside him, and with a great sweeping motion, sent the poor cat arching back with a horrific scream of pain and frustration. He slid from the smokey battlefield, a tension in his shoulder and ribs the likes of which told him his armor wouldn't be coming off so easily after this- if he survived long enough to remove it, anyway.

Still, he gasped, glancing out across the room, he was at least alive now. Others had fallen. He recognized some of the bloodied battlers now limp on the ground or being carried away by less-than-healthy comrads. The battle wasn't lost yet, though. It wasn't over. He'd have his dragon. He'd have his retribution. The leopard's attention turned back to Raheerah, the beast aglow with fire and magma.

He willed his magic, but distractions yet again came, this time in the form of that familiar- louder this time- buzzing. Cetus buzz? Was Aquarian, the sea beast, approaching? Confused and alarmed, Cancer stepped back as the great phoenix lowered upon those who survived the battle thus far. Then, a beam of light, and a voice. Cancer snapped his gaze over towards its source and blinked away his shock.

There, flitting about like a fly, a brown and yellow fairy- for he'd never seen her kind before, his? Its? He'd never seen a creature so large with bug wings before, besides the giant- now deceased- moth. More confusion came in the form of clapping hands and cheering voices, summoned as shadows against the far wall. He blinked. What.

The flying thing then proceeded to flit and buzz around Raheerah. It reminded Cancer that the dragon was dangerous, and he almost called out for her to be careful- but a flash of light later and the dragon was simply as stunned as the rest of them. More talking, splendorous and excited. Nemean. NEMEAN!?

"What." His tone was incredulous. This was Nemean? The great and powerful god beast everyone was talking about? THIS was their almighty creator!? Not a chance. There had to be more to it. Cancer shook his head. This was rediculous. Surely this flitty creature with her show-offish ways was hardly fit to be anyone's creator! He watched her zip up into the ceiling, Raheerah hot on her trail, and he couldn't help running after them just a few paces before stumbling to the ground, unwilling to give up- unwilling to let that dragon get away again. As he lay upon the stone ground, charred and burnt, he heard the murmurs of voices behind him. A familiar hiss. Dragon. Speaking of Nemean. So Aquarian called the fae a traitor? Not such a god thing as some people had called her then.

More words, but Cancer tuned them out, pushing himself to his paws. The road home would be rough. Blood poured from the open end of his tail, the bone already going numb, drying out. His ribs ached. He was sure some were broken. Still, the cat needed to return. He needed to protect his children. Niru would want to hear of the battle... so, blurry-eyed and dazed, the cat wandered away, a bloodied mess of his former battle-ready self. Home to Orion, where his family would be waiting for him... what was left of it.