ORIGIN

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Caliante was beginning to feel absolutely exhausted. It had seemed like such a long flight after spending so much time locked away in a shell. They had barely remembered what it had felt like to fly and to travel from cave to cave so soon? It was a killer.

She could feel the new consciousness, the one that hadn't spoken, finally waking up. It had watched her move and had asked a few small questions on their way and, just as they made it into Eridanus, it finally spoke up properly. Hey, um, I know you're tired so could I maybe have a turn? I'd like to know what it's like to move around.

Caliante sighed. She should have known that this was coming, but, honestly, she wouldn't really mind giving up control. But she didn't want to freak out Mongo and Scorch by suddenly becoming something that she really didn't know. No, for now, she would be her. "No thanks, Tarragon, maybe later." She felt disappointement as Tarragon slunk back, but she brushed it off. They had made it to Eridanus.

She angled down and found a low tree branch that would be good for hanging. She grasped onto it with her claws and let herself hang down. She looked towards the ground where she hoped Mongo and Scorch would appear soon. "So, uh, is this cat anywhere around here?"

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."

@Mongo @Scorch

Mongo plodded after Caliante at an easy lope. He made sure not to move too roughly, not wanting to unseat Scorch. The little owlet weighed next to nothing, and there were a couple of times he could have forgotten that he was being used as a mount.

He kept his eye on Caliante, in case she switched with one of her other personalities. The Fossa worried that Crack might regain control, and attack them before they could react. No matter what, he would protect the little owl.

When he saw Caliante light down, he leaped into the tree as well. It was an easy climb, and soon he was just below the bat. "I'm not entirely sure where, but apparently he lives in a tree surrounded with special, well tended plants. You could search from the air, while I search from the trees? Although, from what I hear, he and another often patrol the forest, so they might come across us before we find him.

@Scorch

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

The vague achy feeling in Scorch's muscles continued all the way to Eridanus. It was rather frustrating, feeling tired all the time. At least it didn't seem to be getting worse yet. And his horn-perch was easy to cling on to, so it didn't take much energy.

Caliante's flight path angled downward, and Scorch felt a spark of worry in his chest. Had Crack taken control again? But no, she didn't dive at him and Mongo. She was just landing on a branch. Or, uh, the bat version of landing. "You're upside down," he blurted. "Doesn't that feel weird?"

He'd never tried hanging upside down before, but the position didn't seem very secure. But then, Caliante was very different from him - fur instead of feathers, weird wing membranes - so maybe he shouldn't worry too much.

@Umbra

It just so happened that Rift was not patrolling that area that day, but it was almost like he had developed an extra sense just for smelling the plague and so the traces of its reek caught him from where he was. He wasn't particularly far from where the three had entered the cave and he wasn't doing anything more important then wiping out that disgusting sickness.

He turned and climbed the nearest tree, beginning his journey through the canopy of the jungle. He leaped expertly from tree to tree, his muscles in tune with the waving of the branches, brushing through leaves like the wind. They would not see him coming.

The stench got stronger and he realized that one was directly in front of him, probably up in the tree as well. He climbed farther up so that he could be above all that had stepped foot in his forest.

Once he was above them, he peered through the trees. They were strangers, two on the ground and one perched on a branch. He breathed in and smelled the sour stench of the plague coming from the bat in the tree as well as the owl perched on the strange creature's head...or, uh, helmet? Either way, the use of a skeleton for decoration disgusted him. They did not belong here.

With a tap of his paw, he connected himself with the tree and the earth beneath it. There were saplings around them, all around, either half grown or barely seeds, but could be grown to his desires nonetheless. With a command of his magic, they began to grow.

Thick tree trunks seemed to come out of nowhere, bushes grew and arched around them. Vines and branches tangled themselves like a web around the three and, within a minute, they were surrounded by a wall of nature. He had intended for the bat to get trapped as well, but his magic seemed to fail him before he could reach them.

That was fine - if they tried to escape, he would simply have another tree catch them along the way. Or he would give chase himself. Nobody knew this forest as well as him.

Finally, he let himself be shown, dropping down from his perch until he was just above the bat, placing one of paws on top of the claw that hung to the tree. He stood tall and glared down at the creatures on the forest floor. "Why have you come here," he snarled. "And how dare you bring this foul plague to Eridanus?"

At Mongo's suggestion that the cat might be around, she glanced nervously through the trees. Was he coming now? Or whoever else was with him? Did they already know they were here? She feared for them. She feared that Crack would take control and possibly put an already unsteady situation more at risk. "Hey, can you guys make sure Crack doesn't interfere?" She could feel a number of consciousness turn towards her and listen carefully. "I don't want it to make things worse. I'd like fair warning, at least." Thoughts of affirmation came from Salvation and Tarragon, a gentle acceptance from Ripple, and a grumpy, delayed response from Rusty before he disappeared with the others.

She sighed. Hopefully that would give her warning at least to let the others know. She hoped she would not have to warn them, though.

Scorch's question at least got her mind off of Crack and she giggled a little bit at the question. She had never thought about what it was like to hang upside down. She looked up at her feet and how little energy and effort it took to hang like this. "No, not really. It feels a lot more natural then perching like you are. Doesn't that feel weird? You have to hold up your whole body!"

She suddenly froze as the ground around them began to shift and, suddenly plants were rising, entrapping the two of them in a circle. Terror shot through her body and she wanted to fly, get out of the way, but she was frozen with fear and awe. What power could possibly do something like this?!

There was suddenly something soft and warm pressing against her claws and she knew as the voice rang out proudly to the ones gathered bellow. She looked up and caught sight of what looked like the forest come alive - green fur and moss and flower in the shape of a cat, his green eyes glistening with rage. She gulped and opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, only a terrified squeak.

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."

@Mongo

Mongo listened to the owl's and bat's conversation without care, instead tilting his head to try and see if he could hear the cat. He was careful not to dislodge Scorch, able to tell he was becoming weak.

He only had a few seconds of warning, before suddenly tree trunks and bushes came from nowhere. The Fossa flinched back, bristling his fur and stomping his paw. The ground rattled beneath him, but not nearly as strong as he had wished it to be.

However, the cat showed himself after only a moment. And he was unmistakable, probably the only green cat in the caves, the cat they were looking for.

The Fossa bristled, but took a deep breath. He stood tall as he announced to Rift, "I am Mongo, this is Caliante and Scorch. Scorch has been sickened, and we seek your help."

@Scorch

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

Scorch widened his eyes in mock disbelief. "It feels MORE natural? But how? Why? Don't your legs get sore from that? If I tried that they'd get sore from being stretched by my weight, I think! This is much easier." He wiggled his talons to reinforce the fact. "What do you think, Mongo?"

Suddenly, trees, bushes, and vines sprang up all around them, nearly startling Scorch off his perch as he screeched an alarm. "Hey!" he called to whoever it was. Maybe Salvation had come out again. "I get that magic is great and all, but next time, maybe a little warning would be nice? You nearly-" His beak dropped open as a green cat showed itself, placing a paw on Caliante's claws. "Oh wow, you're so green! I'm Scorch, who're - WAIT wait wait WHY ARE YOU SNARLING AT US? Oh no, you're another bad guy, aren't you? Don't worry Caliante, I'll save you!"

The owlet reached out with his magic, begging for something to come and help. He couldn't let this evil cat hurt Caliante! Crack had tried to give Scorch a sickness that might kill him. Who knew what this cat might do?! Something to knock him down from the branch so he couldn't get Caliante, maybe. The magic surged - and Scorch drew it back, suddenly terrified. What if he accidentally knocked Caliante off instead? He couldn't do that, not ever.

The process had been started, but he had to stop it somehow! Scorch batted desperately at his chest, where his gem was, with his wings, barely registering Mongo's voice. Oh so THIS was the cat they were looking for! He had to not magic Greencat even more, then. The magic was under control, but the aborted spell tired him a surprising amount. He actually fell off Mongo's horn this time, dissolving into coughs. At least... at least he hadn't done anything to ruin this. "Sorry," he gasped between coughs. "Didn't know you were... one of the good guys."

@Rift

Scorch? Like fire? So not only did they bring the plague here, they brought fire! Destructive magics of the worst kinds. His fur bristled as he gazed at the three of them. "You were looking for me?" he growled. For his help? He locked eyes with Scorch and his bristling fur fluffed out at their accusation that he was an evildoer. His claws slid out a little bit as he growled lowly at Scorch. He felt the stirrings of magic and blinked with surprise. It was magic that resonated with his own. Was it possible that creatures bearing plant magic could be evil?

He frowned and narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Mongo, who seemed to be the one in charge. "Sickened? By who?" He breathed in deeply and focused on the plague-scents. The owl's was certainly weaker, as if it was a smaller vector or even just an unfortunate victim. However, the bat's was unmistakable. He curled his lip and one of his claws dug into the bat's foot. "You seek my help but you bring a bearer of the same plague that lies within the owl." As he spoke, tiny branches and vines began winding their way down and around the bat's limbs, binding them to the tree and holding their wings close to their body. "If this creature was truly good, they would have healed the plague already. Hell, they wouldn't even have it in the first place! Now, tell me why you're really here." The plants along his body shivered menacingly with his bristling fur, giving him the appearance of a tree waving angrily.

Caliante couldn't move out of sheer terror. She could faintly hear one of the other consciousnesses calling for her, but she was deaf to them, all of her senses focused on the cat that pinned her to the tree. She wanted to explain, to tell him about Crack and the ones in her. She wanted to tell him that it was all a misunderstanding. But her throat felt dry and her mouth like it was filled with dirt. She just couldn't.

Suddenly she felt something wrap tightly around her body and she squeaked, instinctively thrashing, but it was too late. Plant matter wound around her and held her together and to the tree. Her eyes were wide with terror and she struggled to break free, letting out noises of sheer horror. She wanted to cry and let one of the others take over, but she knew she had to be strong. It would only make things worse if someone like Rusty got in control. She needed to calm down.

She just barely heard what he had to say next and she finally had something to throw back at him. She stopped thrashing, her ears perking. "W-wait! I-I would, if I could. I just...I don't know the spell! Please, believe me! I don't want Scorch to suffer!"

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."

@Mongo

Mongo had heard that this puma was kind.

But, so far, there had been no sign of this. He had attacked them upon first seeing them, and was accusing Caliante of harming Scorch on purpose.

"It was an accident." he growled, flashing his teeth, although they couldn't be seen. "She did not mean to sicken him." and then, inspiration struck him. "She bears the plague so she can study it, so we can try to help those who are suffering it."

He bristled when the bat was tied to a tree, and growled, "Neither of us is capable of healing the plague. I know only earth magic, and she does not know the spell."

@Scorch

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

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Umbra

Mayngo

Scorch

Rift (Original)

Umbra

Mayngo

Scorch

Rift (Original)

Umbra

Mayngo