ORIGIN

Where had the great Queen been? Oh, here and there and all over. Roaming far and wide to scout out the caves and opportunities within. Sadly, she'd not seen much that could benefit herself. Only things that mattered not to her. Weddings, new gems being born, Fisher... but she wasn't interested in that. She wanted something that could help her with a plot for revenge. Not only for the Bonebound but for Louie... As far as she was concerned he was still a traitor and still needed to be punished. Wherever he had slinked off to she would find him... No. She'd send someone else to find him. The entirety of Merrymen. He would be brought back to Monoceros and he would meet justice for his crimes against his family. Treachery against your own kin... That was something that could not be forgiven.

The tiny queen lounged against a chrysalis, the bright yellow stone provided a great prop for her to lean herself against. Unfortunately the stone which she had breathed life into had yet to hatch but that was fine. There were other saps out in the world that would just beg at her claws to be trained under such an excellent thief. So, as a prop this thing would do just fine. In the queen's sharp little claws she twirled a small shard of purple gem. It put her in the mind of a certain horse that she'd met long ago... Had he been killed? Perhaps. There had been enough of the purple stone smashed around that he must have met an awful fate. Aw well, since he'd been gone so long his stone was more useful as an ornament now than his body was as a member. The queen was pleased.

After she finished examining the thin she used a free paw to grab a nearby rock which she began to bang loudly on the chrysalis behind her. It created a resounding echo that would far and wide throughout the trenches of Monoceros, perhaps even to the tunnel beyond. The vixen's silver gaze raised upwards and scanned the dark reseses of the cave. She had an intimate knowledge of this place and she would know when her family came to the call. Perhaps she would even get lucky and some curious new members would come, it was high time they initiated more merry men amongst them.

Perhaps even... if rumors were true Louie would show and she'd get to tell him exactly what she thought of him.


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"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

As she lounged against the chrysalis, paws absently fiddling with the gem shard she saw him. His coat almost melded with the shadows he was so dark but she could see him. A little lion cub, making his way fearlessly towards her. The little mongoose smiled at him when she was questioned and accused of waking him up. What a brave fellow, the Merrymen could use brave gems like him in their ranks. And so young too... that meant impressionable. Good.

The little mongoose tossed her head, flicking the scruffy forelock out of her eyes as she gave the feline a comradely grin. "Sorry 'bout that kiddo but I gotta make noise for my friends t'hear me. We've got a meetin' an' I don't want'em t'be late." Here she gave him a wink. "Seems as if ya beat'em here though, I like punctuality, kid. Why don't ya stick around? Might see somethin' ya like an' who knows, maybe I'll let ya stick around." If he proved himself useful, of course. Otherwise she'd toss him out on his tail or let Magdalena play with him.

"As for who I am, my name's Fang. I'm the Queen 'a Thieves an' the leader 'round here."


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"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

Rumors were harmful, everyone knew that. Perched on his platform, the crimson beast gently brushed a paw over the two precious and carefully forming gems They were swelling quickly, it was to his amusement that they had reached such a size in a matter of a week. Both beautiful, his deepest wonder was held over the unknown gemstone, what secrets it contained. Louie didn't get the chance to capture the elusive Baratheon and force him to cleave off a portion of his own gem, but he had hope that this would be the next best thing. For some stupid reason, the resonating sound of rock on chrysalis came barreling up the walls of Monoceros. "Who the fuck even," yes, he hadn't been expecting complete solitude here as he had done in the Spire, but a bit of peace and quiet wasn't that much to ask. Merrymen were still here, but his evasion of them thus far had gone well.

Diamondfang probably had plans to carve him up and wear his skin like some sot of trophy. But he had reasons for leaving, and he could lie his way out of it if he had to. Technically, he had done what they had wanted him to do, lead Baratheon away from this place and no longer keep him captive. Well in their travels both the dragon and the numbat had gotten separated from him so there wasn't that issue anymore. Run-ins with Booker were... well... Raising his head from his stones, he brushed a paw back over his face and down his ears, gently rubbing the well formed scar.

Time to face that gleeful music of watching the Merrymen screech at him.

Not entirely sure where they were, he just made his way down the platforms until a familiar sandy coat, capped with two daggers, came into view. Nemesis was also there, as well as another he wasn't familiar with. Magdalena had surely told her what they had done... That he was now an untouchable due to his connection through family. Mistepping and tripping over the edge, he landed on the next outcrop where they were gathered with a thump. God damn peace of... "Well, Diamondfang. Interesting to see you calling the shots." One eye lighting up, he pulled himself to his feet, unfazed by his entrance. Dirt did cover his left side, but he ignored that. Everything was fiiiiine. "I'm here to face the music." Wickedly, he lashed his tail and snorted as his lips curled back once again. If they wanted a fight, he would give them one to remember.

That borzoi woman wasn't here though... Where was she??

When the drums had sounded, signifying the summoning of the Merrymen, Magdalena made her slow and careful approach. She wasn't by Nemesis' side today - nor was she by Louie, or the slow growing eggs fastened to the wall. She didn't listen to Diamondfang start the calling, nor was she aware of the youthful lion that had come wandering into the cave.

She had been dreaming.

They visited her more and more often. She was caught somewhere between the reality of their contrived existence and their treachery as mere memories - faces that had long past that drifted by more and more frequently. She wondered if dreams were a passageway. She sought the answers from them, but they only smiled and repeated lines she'd heard thousands of times. What progress she could have made, she didn't know. It was a distant grasping after all. A latent thought in midday.

She wasn't completely asleep. Her mind was drifting back to those dreams, and dreams of dreams, at the drumming. From her ledge she followed the sound, descending the freshly carved path through the dust, prints that hadn't existed long enough to accumulate even a speck of grime. She could hear their voices rising through the air. Diamondfang speaking to someone, and her Fire's inquisitive voice. Louie dropping in to the gathering, challenging the mongoose. As expected. The faces of dreams hung behind on the fringe of her mind; they were unimportant now. Magdalena wandered towards the group, she could feel the pull of her magic, feel theirs; one unfamiliar, the rest known. She wanted to say something in her approach, some defensive warning, some gentle spirited greeting, but it was never hers to act rashly.

Instead, she was quiet. The borzoi strode towards the group at an odd angle, close to no one in particular. Hers was a quiet and patient arrival.

After the child someone more familiar showed up. The trino didn't appear to happy that she was consorting with a lion cub, she'd heard what had happened before but this one was different. Perhaps they'd have an ally out of him, they'd just have to see. For now, she was finished speaking with him. She needed words with her closest associate before the meeting officially began. "I'll talk to ya later, kiddo. Go ahead'n have a seat, eh?" She winked at the kid before turning her attention the Fire one paw beckoning the trino closer. "Come an' 'ave a seat near me." Now her voice dropped low to a whisper as she spied the other members slowly coming out of the woodwork. "I see Lou's weasled his way back in. Prob'ly hopin' I've forgotten about 'im... but I ain't. In any case, keep on alert an' if I give the signal. Grab'im. I don't suffer traitors lightly." With that her tiny whisper ceased and a comradely smile appeared on her face as she turned her silvered gaze to the fox.

At his words she gave a hearty laugh as if he'd just told the best joke. "Louie, baby! Good t'see yer back! I was beginnin' t'worry about ya! Y'know that dragon was a nasty piece'a work, I was afraid he'd ruined the rest 'a your good looks." The tiny queen laughed again then she stood up to her full --tiny-- height. "But I shoulda known you'd be alright... After all, ya always manage to slink yer way outta trouble and back to us." Now she grinned, but it wasn't a kind one... It was a cruel, bloodthirsty one that promised nothing good. "However, it prob'ly woulda been better if ya'd just let the dragon finish ya off." With that Diamondfang turned and leaped to the top of the chrysalis so that she could see the gathering better from a new vantage point.

"Nemesis, Magdalena, new Merrymen all. A traitor tries to walk back into our family today after he cost us our revenge on the Bonebound. Well, I won't be havin' that... If you turn on the family then there must be punishments..." Her slinky gaze turned to the trino. "Fire... if you would." She waited while the trinoceros grabbed the fox and held him still. Then she continued, "Now, I think we otta teach'im a lesson. What do you think, guys? Treachery can't go unpunished, right?" Now she addressed the small crowd and waited to see what they would say.


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"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

Diamondfang had begun her arrogant diatribe towards the fox. There wasn't much Magdalena could do at this point. Her nature prevented her interruption, and besides, she found herself at least mildly curious about how the mongoose was going to deal with his return. They speculated that it wouldn't be pleasant, but neither of them knew to what extent. She was quiet as they targeted the fox, and Diamondfang instructed her Fire to capture him. Magdalena turned her head ever so slightly towards the trino, her straw eyes wandering distant - for the most part, observant, quiet, attentive. Treachery. Is that what this was? Abandonment - he had brought Booker and Baratheon into the home. Endangered them all.

Then again, she was as treacherous as the fox, if killing another Merrymen could speak for anything. Magdalena tilted her head. Then her head swiveled back to Diamondfang. "He is raising two chrysali." She finally spoke, her voice dull, if loud enough to cut into the atmosphere and search for attention. "One of them is mine. I would offer the child to atone for Louie's sins." Magdalena said simply. She'd obliged her teacher out of loyalty and faith. Did he not owe her to some degree - would the child they shared not compensate for his survival? After all, if his return to the Merrymen was permanent, then it meant complimenting their numbers not by one - but three. Her child and the child of the danburite could stand to make up for his treachery.

As she produced this suggestion, she craved to turn her attention back to her Fire and Louie, to probe for a reaction. But first, she wanted to know what Diamondfang would have to say about the news.

Nemesis stepped forward and bowed her head to Fang, ears twisting forward to hear what the little lady had to say... Not that Fang was much of a lady at all. She gave a decisive snort and backed off, glancing around idly as though looking for Magdalena. When the dog did come, a twitch of a smile met her lips though she did not approach her just yet. It was enough to share the same open space.

Fang directed Nemesis shortly there after to pin up Louie so she stepped over, a feeling of pride washing over her as she went to the fox and attempted to step on his tail. She was a clumsy creature and rastling wasn't necessarily her forte-- but she could, supposing he didn't move, hold him down while Fang did her dirty work.

Just barely she managed to do it, too, before Magdalena spoke. She leaned her weight on the tail but turned her attention to the princess, ears twitching-- what was this she was saying? Oh, about the child. Nemesis knew of the child but she did her best not to think about it. To Magdalena, it had been nothing but a simple act of, what, obedience? She wasn't sure. It felt wrong to Nemesis, having put her heart and soul into her now born rhino-turtle daughter so they would have something they could call their own.

In the end, Nemesis didn't know what to think and so she tried not to. She simple stood over Louie, doing her best to make sure he didn't scramble off without permission.

"Magdalena Speech" "Nemesis Speech"

Woh hey now. Magdalena entered, but his attention was fixed on the smaller mongoose woman as she began to address everyone once again. Certainly her manner hadn't changed and his slightly elongated tail swept the ground behind him churning up dust. Thinking of Baratheon reminded him of his meeting with Booker and his lips pursed into a hard line. Sure, he would have usually joked back but he felt hollow, "Yeah. I got them away from Monoceros as you asked. Don't know where you got the idea I had 'deserted' you from." No one had reason to believe he had abandoned them, unless Khloros had slipped up and actually confessed. After he had left, he had split ways with Baratheon and Booker almost immediately to fight with Raheerah. He had become a recluse at the base of the Spire. But he wouldn't bother explaining all this.

So many words he wanted to spit out, but he kept silent as he wasn't entirely sure he knew how to handle this situation. What approach to take to try and weasel himself out of this one. Magdalena spoke first, using their child as an offering and he swung his head to her with his one eyebrow raised high. What was she intending on doing? Pressure was felt on the tip of his tail as Nemesis loomed over him. This was going swell, "Interesting methods you're taking up now Diamondfang," voice hardly a whisper. It was back to the four of them, and this stranger, but he doubted Magdalena would stand by him being tortured and with Nemesis under her paw he figured it'd be alright. There was a reason he'd stuck by his bacterial borzoi and he felt thankful to have her as his supposed friend and ally.