ORIGIN

Sure enough, the raven started wailing apologies and compliments his way. Honestly, the cat was more satisfied with its pleading tone and desperation than any apologies just for the sake of ones life. He considered, for a slight moment, what would happen if he still bit the bird's head off. It was a comforting image, but then, would he really be in the right? This thing could talk. It wasn't a lesser 'bound like the mice and rats he ate. This was a bird, like Bevy or Azazel. He liked those birds... so maybe he could live with himself if he let this annoyance live. He wore a satisfied grimace as he considered his options.

"Fine." Finally, the cat stepped backwards, letting the bird up. "I won't eat you this time, but watch your mouth from now on. There's bigger, meaner things than me in this cave." His eyes wandered to the golems, and he seemed to tense. "That stone has a map carved into it, for your information." He moved over to the tablet and shuffled it back face-up. None of the etchings had broken off, but the top edge was sharp now. He cussed under his breath as he ran a paw across it, testingly. "You didn't mess up the map at least, but now I have less room for everything." He complained passively, calmer now. "Are your wings okay?" He placed a paw over the tablet as he looked over at the bird, curious to see what damage he'd done. It had felt good catching him from the air like that. He'd have to remember that move next time he needed to get up high.

The bird still didn't understand the concept of his map, so Cancer gave up on it then and there. Well, the bird at least. The map needed more work. He bent and scooped it up between his horns again, then with a scoff, started walking towards the spire again. "Maybe that'll teach you not to mess with cats, then." He wasn't moved by the bird's injuries, real or not. In fact, he felt the bird deserved more than he'd gotten- but that was just vanity speaking.

"You'd best hop or fly back to where you came from, Kraker." He glanced back at the bird for a moment, lidded eyes disapproving of its act. "Unless you can tell more more about this place, anyway. I'm sure your brilliance is needed elsewhere, though, so run along." Cancer would just like to get back to the task at hand. He could only hope, or maybe pray, that this black bird would leave him alone now that he'd shut it down.

The bird was crafty. Cancer hadn't expected it to be crafty. As soon as he'd mentioned Aza'zel, the raven became devious, saying he didn't care for glory, and would rather tell Aza'zel, to see the horrors the bigger bird would unleash on the leopard. Cancer cringed inwardly at the thought. Aza'zel wouldn't be a problem later. He could tell he'd be bigger than the bird, and with his ability to climb and jump, he'd take him down easily if it came down to it... but right now, the Bone King had more magic than Cancer could ever dream of weilding. With nothing to use as an attack in that sense, Cancer submitted- but not entirely.

"Very well, Krakarak. I'll see what I can do." He smirked. "My name's Karkata. You can call me Karkat." He grinned reassuringly, his lie rolling off easily- it wasn't entirely a lie. This was his surname, but he and Bevy were the only two who knew it. He'd never used it since his birth. It had always been simple- Cancer. This bird didn't need to know that, though. The less he knew, the easier this would be to twist around and put himself in the advantageous position.

The Raven flitted down to land on his head, and though the bird was much heavier than Bevy, Cancer stood easily. The tablet was slid back and eased to the floor, and with careful paws, he'd push the tablet to the far wall and leave it there for now. "What do you need from me, anyway? You have wings and claws. Can't you do your own chores?"