The stone within the bird-dog's grasp glowed, its markings pulsing to life. Talion stared at the suddenly active gem, his large dark eyes reflecting the stunning sight. All other thoughts fell away in awe of the gem, that is, until everyone started yelling and the ground started vibrating beneath him.
The owl jerked his head toward the thundering steps first, and the shouted warning from the dragon, first. Somewhere in his shock, the giant, ivory reptile had landed, and she had apparently failed at subduing the golem. He assumed as much because the magicka powered rock was running straight toward him and the bird-dog.
Had one of the hybrids not suddenly yelled out its own warning, Talion would have never looked its way. Whenever the high-pitched voice tore through the air though, just as he was taking off, he had to look. When he did, the glint of the second gemstone caught his eye.
At first, the owl thought it to was part of the hybrid, but as he angled toward them, and more importantly away from the golem, he saw the stone. It was smaller than the pale blue one, and thus, a much easier prize to go after. First though, he had to get away from the stomping rock beast that was headed his way.
Talion beat his wings as hard and as fast as he could, heading straight toward the hybrid. He didn't bother gaining much altitude, he just needed distance between him and the golem.
As Skeena ripped the fish's shiny grey stone free, the golem stomped ever closer. Only at the clatter of the baubled gem rolling past did it pause, turning toward it, attracted by the innate magicka left to leave it illuminated; it leaned down and there was a soft hum.
A moment later the stone rose up, and slammed into the golem's body, adding itself to the rocks that made up its strangely-animated form. White had bought them a moment of time to react.
It found that the object it had initially pursued was nowhere to be sensed: Vinea had scuttled it away, now. Yet the gembound and their magic stones still lay before it. It turned to lumber back toward Skeena, the one still on the ground, still within its reach.
The Gembound present have choices. They might try to engage this golem and attempt to destroy it, or to scatter their separate ways, or to gather in safety elsewhere and discuss what they have found... or something else unforeseen. Whatever they choose, the Golem is again drawing closer to Skeena, the earth trembling at its every step.
@Talion @Skeena @Vinea @Asimona @White
The golem's ground-shaking steps did little to hinder the barn owl. He glided a foot above the ground, his gaze focused on the small, dark stone peeking out from behind the hybrid's back legs.
He paid no mind to the bird-dog's instructions, or to the first stone, which now lay unguarded. The golem was back there, it could have the blue stone, the selfish, ungrateful bird-dog, and the dragon if it wanted it. Talion was after a much more suitable prize now.
The ground quaked beneath the golem's stomping steps, causing the small, dark stone to shift and bounce into the open just enough for Talion to be able to swoop down and snatch it up.
"YES!" He screeched triumphantly as he clenched his talons around his prize.
The melanistic owl turned, aiming his quick, powerful wingbeats down at the hybrid he had just stolen from.
That should discourage it from following, Talion thought as he climbed higher and higher.
@Skeena
Several things happened all at once.
The golem turned, shuffling rapidly toward White and her glowing stone--only to swivel sharply at the use of magicka by Skeena. As it turned, Asimona plowed into it--even a glancing blow, as it was turning at the river's edge, sent it tumbling in with a crash, and a splash.
A moment later, it was gone.
Talion is now escaping with the hematite gemstone of a lesser gembound fish. Vinea still safely holds the mysterious, glowing stone, with all its intricate symbols. White and Asimona, it seems, have fought off the golem threat... for now.
What they do next is up to them... but will undoubtedly affect their futures.
@White @Vinea @Skeena @Asimona @Talion