ORIGIN

The sound of the other Gembound moving, his weight dragging across the floor and his claws scraping against the stone, made Faelan turn his head to look. He moved just as slow as the reptile, all energy and gumption to go on seemingly sapped from him. His golden eyes regarded the stranger dully, not expecting, or perhaps not caring, if an attack came now.

Yet, when Dragon parted his massive jaws, and a hiss rasped up from the depths of his throat, Faelan tensed. He instinctively shifted his weight so that he'd be able to spring away if Dragon attacked.
The words that were blasted at him almost felt like an attack, and he actually had to squint against the sudden barrage of air and sound. The lion's ears flicked back, trying to protect themselves from the unexpectedly high volume.

At first, Faelan thought that Dragon was asking if he was the judge, or the lion, from earlier. Assuming that, he figured that the poor reptile had horrible sight if he couldn't tell Mercurius and himself a part. Then, he watched as the other Gembound looked from him, to the runes, and then back at him, and the true meaning of the question finally made sense.

"No, I am not the one who spoke. I was merely a spectator, like everyone else," Faelan said, heaving a sigh after his last words. His gaze returned to the gem formation, as did his thoughts.

"I wish I could remember through the stone, like I remembered at the carvings," the lion muttered to himself as he lifted a paw. For a moment, it looked as if he was going to reach out and touch the epidote. Then he suddenly withdrew his massive pad, and set it back down on the floor.
No, he would not touch the darkness again, he thought as memories of the eyes blinked open in his mind, especially not on purpose.

@Dragon

Dragon tilted his head, and huffed a bit. Just a spectator, hmm? Yet--what was this, of remembering through stone? If he is capable of that, it might be very useful...

Dragon lowered his voice, some, looking to the runes as if afraid they might overhear. It wasn't as insane as it sounded, he supposed--the things could apparently speak, after all. "You can remember through stone? That is a good gift. Good for survival," Dragon added, certainty in his tone. "There are many secrets to the caves--secrets upon with our survival relies, lion. Any chance to drag them from the stone and from the air is a good chance to take." He knew lions--he had met them before, though in his experience the things--as with most cats--had turned out hostile. But once he had sort of counted a lion among his Children, and so he tried to be patient with this one now.

Plus, it was huge.

Dragon fell silent for the time being, turning his attention back to the runes: trying to remember them, to memorize them, despite their maddeningly chaotic forms. He had no idea what they meant; he knew only that they might, in some way, be important.

To Faelan he added only--"I would add more of this topic--but not here. The stones, perhaps, might overhear. They do seem to speak, after all; and I know not what connection these words have with the darkness, and the Eyes."

@Faelan

The deep, rumbling tones of the reptile filled the air again, this time at a much lower volume than before. Faelan looked at his gem for another moment before looking up at Dragon.
The lion hadn't intended to speak his thoughts, but he supposed it didn't matter. The other Gembound thought his magic to be a good thing, which Faelan had to at least somewhat agree with. It might just be the only useful part of me, he thought despondently. It had proven useful when he needed it the most, Faelan supposed, thinking back to his battles, and his meeting with Septiezal before the Carvings.

After a moment of silence, and brooding, passed, Dragon finally admitted to knowing more about what was going on. Faelan's ears perked curiously, and his head turned to regard his current company with interest. It was at the mention of the Eyes that a shiver ran up Faelan's back, cold and sharp. He sucked in a breath, and held it as the memories slipped back over him.

Nothing. Then eyes. No one, but the eyes. Mocking voices, laughter. Nowhere, but absolute darkness, and the eyes.

Faelan visibly shuddered, his tail snapping back and forth anxiously. He parted his jaws to speak, then cast a glance at the runes, and thought better of it. He looked at Dragon, and then cast a quick look over Polaris.
"Let us walk," Faelan suggested as he rose to his paws. He flicked his tail toward the Dam, to silently indicate their path. Perhaps, the noise of the golems would block out any that might be listening in.

Faelan waited to start walking until Dragon had, so that he might match his pace with the other Gembound's. After nearly a cycle of being with Mercurius, the habit of having a companion did not fade easily.
The thought of the other lion made Faelan looked longingly in the direction he had gone. But he knew better than to go after his partner now, and...a part of him wasn't ready yet. Faelan struggled with more than just his identity, he struggled with knowledge of things beyond himself. He hoped that Dragon could help enlighten him, so that he might return to Mercurius a little less burdened with fear. Then, perhaps Mercurius could explain a few things too.

[EXIT]

@Dragon

Let us walk.

Such simple words; yet they held such depth of meaning. Dragon understood at once that his words had resonated with this lion; that there was something Faelan wanted to say, or, perhaps, to hear.

Dragon grunted and turned, shuffling to follow him, but it would quickly become apparent that the lion would need to move quite slowly for him. Dragon was not a swift being to begin with, and at the tail end of the scars littering his back was a twisted, somewhat withered right hind limb. He dragged this with him, his movement a gradual, shuffling limp.

Still, he followed, eyeing the dam ahead warily--knowing full well that the golems were not always as friendly as they at first might seem. "Nearer the water, then, so I might use the river if needed," he grumbled. "And tell me, what is your name?"

ooc - Do you want to pop the new thread or should I?
@Faelan // exit Dragon