ORIGIN

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All he had was slivers--little slivers of knowledge. A sliver, perhaps, of hope.

He'd made sure he wasn't followed--slipping away into the ruins and circling, watching back behind him with a quiet, cautious eye. His nose and ears found nothing, and even the double he'd sent out to check his path found it empty.

Only when he was absolutely certain that he was alone did he slip back into Orion proper, trotting quickly and quietly--careful to keep to the dirt, and not the stone, to muffle his hoofsteps--toward the Throne. What he'd encountered was a boon--whether it was useful he didn't yet know, but there was information enough there. He tried to settle a thick mist--a natural-looking one--to cover his path, but (as seemed more and more common these days) his magicka did not answer. Perhaps, he thought, this was for the best; a mist might be noticed as out of place.

"Envy," he called out, as he approached--not too loudly, but enough to draw attention. There was urgency in his tone. "My King. Are you here?"

@Envy

Envy was settled on the throne, sprawled across its seat in a rather relaxed manner. To the untrained eye they may have appeared asleep as Pride approached, but their ears twitched as the stag's soft call reached their rounded ears. They'd returned to their position on the throne for a break from speaking to their kingdom's residents- being king was tiring work,so they had settled down to bask in the light and restore their energy. The weasel's head quickly shot up- at first with an anxious shock that the stag had caught them in a moment of quiet rather than fulfilling their kingly duties as promised. Soon, though, they rolled onto their paws and sat up onto their hindpaws, flexing their quills before quickly laying them flat.

"P-Pride! I was just... restoring my energy. I've visited several of the kingdom already, like... like you said. Gluttony has proposed a celebration of my crown!" the weasel excused, worried in that moment that the stag would accuse them of laziness or napping on the job. They were a good king! Surely he could see that? But as Pride spoke again, Envy detected the note in Pride's voice- and though they didn't show it aside from a sharp perk of their quills, it filled them with fear. "What's... What's going on?"

They pattered to stand at the edge of the throne to watch Pride approach, the bony end of their tail curling towards their back.

When I speak.

When I think.

________________

@Pride

Pride flicked an ear, stepping forward--he didn't fail to catch the notes of worry in Envy's voice, but he had little time to puzzle over it at the time being. For a moment, instead, he glanced back--listening to make absolutely certain no one else was near. Only when he was sure did he turn back, speaking in a hushed tone, his expression intent upon Envy's face.

"One of the so-called Bloodberries was here," he began quickly, and quietly. "The hybrid present before the situation in the tunnel escalated--do you remember him? He is young, I think--or young of mind. It could be a trap," Pride added, "but I could sense little sign of one. From what I can tell, that damned goose is gathering young Gembound, and tormenting them, raising them in fear to be brainwashed as her soldiers. The creature was half-mad with fear at the idea of her. I have tried to sow some seeds of rebellion within it, and offered it aid should it choose to betray her--I hope this is all right," the stag added, in a faint tone of apology, voice still hushed. He knew full well, after all, that Huckleberry had been one of those involved in the near-fatal attack.

"I have some information, regardless--what little the creature let slip. Huckleberry is what it calls itself," he added quietly.
"Assuming none of what it said were lies sent to misinform us, I thought you would like to hear. It may be of use to us."

Pride quickly ran over, in his mind, everything that he had heard and said in his interactions with Huckleberry. What magic the other knew, though he still didn't think Huckleberry was a spy. The few names he'd spoken. The information about the group itself. He was preparing it in his mind, organizing his verbal report, and awaiting permission to further speak.

@Envy

Envy froze at Pride's introduction, quills rising upright along their spine. "What?" they hissed in disbelief, an electric jolt of fear sweeping through them greater than any self-inflicted paranoia. A sickness rose n their belly, fear-induced paranoia causing them to sway on the spot. They barely heard as Pride continued, their spines letting out a soft rattle.

But they nodded. "I remember them. How could I forget? I remember... all of them." The weasel came back to attentiveness and continued to watch Pride, horror evident in their catlike eyes even before Pride had explained the situation. Even that didn't help. They were uncertain of how Pride wanted them to respond to that. What could they say? what could they do? They were king, but they were only one weasel. Pride might want revenge, but Envy wanted to stay as far away from their assailants as they could. Although the fight was a blur, they remembered the searing agony as though it was yesterday.

"I... I see..." the weasel muttered after a time, swinging the heavy weight of their tail as they tried to curb their anxiety. Pride had offered the creatures aid? That meant Envy would need to get involved. They might have to risk their kingdom! "I'll... think about it," the weasel managed stiffly, and a little coldly, not lowering their spines. "What did it say? What information?"

When I speak.

When I think.

________________

@Pride

Pride shifted his gaze more directly to Envy, peering for just a beat before clarifying.

"To be clear, I offered it my own personal aid," he added, "and then, only on the condition that it not endanger allies. I am well aware that there is a chance--regardless of how slim--that it may be a trap." It was as if he was reading Envy's mind--but he wasn't, right? He had likely just realized how it sounded, and had at once recognized the need to correct it.

He then took a breath, appearing more distant as he thought. "Psychologically, I believe the goose has them all brainwashed, as I said. This 'Huckleberry,' if he was to be believed, was horrified at what was done to you." Pride was emotionless as he spoke, matter-of-fact, though hardly harsh in tone. "He wishes to reattain the 'love' of his mother, and claims they are a family who all love one another."

The stag paused, delicately leaning down to groom a bit of fur on his knee in an absent manner. His thoughts gathered, he lifted his head, looking to Envy, and continued. "Strategically... In terms of numbers, he rattled off names too quickly for me to remember. I only remember 'Baneberry.' There were others--between five and ten in total, I believe, at the least. From what he mentioned, a 'Mama'--the goose--and some unknown 'Papa' are among them, and of the list, one has been missing for some time. The rest were all variations on the word 'Berry,'" he added, with a dry and disgusted tone. How ridiculous, he thought to himself for the fiftieth time.

"Magically-speaking... This Huckleberry can create lightning, that much I know. And it is powerful magic. Quite powerful. His claim, too, is that it is his mother's magic--the goose's, I presume, but I have not seen her use any thus far. He mentioned that another of them enjoys using magic to frighten others, but past that, I learned little."

He thought, for a moment--what else was there? Ahh--"Apparently..." and Pride paused almost at once, giving Envy a faintly-troubled glance. "Apparently this one has created new life, and Blackberry then took it from him. I think she has his offspring hostage, or some such. They are monsters, King Envy," Pride added quietly--but it was more his own thought, his own quiet anger, than any attempt to convince Envy. Envy, after all, knew it better than anyone. "Lastly--you should know that Huckleberry is aware that I live here, and that others I care for live here, as well. I did not outright state that our little group is here but they may well assume it on their own. Those traps, I spoke of--perhaps better sooner than later."

All of this said, he bowed in a sweeping kneel of sorts. His grand antler rack swept toward the floor with respect, and after a moment, he again stood, awaiting Envy's command.

@Envy

Envy looked at Pride closely, their quills appearing to relax slightly as the stag re-iterated and elaborated- essentially confirming that Envy didn't need to have anything to do with Pride's 'aid' if they didn't want to. Envy blew out softly, whiskers relaxing. "I don't think there's any way it wouldn't be a trap. Those monsters' loyalty is absolute. I saw it. I felt it." The weasel's tone was deadly serious. In an effort to extinguish the nervousness, the weasel jived a little on the spot, swaying like a cobra and twitching their tail. After a moment, they changed their mind; there was a surge of magic and their spectral wings appeared, along with a small pair of horns, then the weasel hopped off their perch and flitted onto the top of Pride's head.

Pride spoke of not recalling the names that Huckleberry- Envy remembered the Gembound in question- had spoken. But Envy remembered them all. They, after all, had been the one to gather information, and they certainly hadn't slacked on that. "When I was spying. The goose attacked 'Huckleberry' with her claws. The others just watched. It was for bringing a 'stranger' to the nest. And... I think I know them."

They recalled the hybrid muttering to themselves. They'd heard something about shining, glowing, and the word 'wolf'. They knew who that was, although they were at loathe to meet her again. She was like Pride, too pretty and powerful, and it made them ache inside.

"...The others, yeah. There's Jayberry, a wolf. I never saw Baneberry or their 'papa'. But I know a name. Blueberry. There's also Mulberry, which is some other sort of dog. And Elderberry. I... think that's all. But that was some time ago." As Pride commented on their names, Envy let out a scoff. "I know. It makes them sound so prissy. Doesn't it?" the weasel felt a momentary surge of satisfaction as they were finally given the opportunity to mock them- even if they were a long way out of earshot.

"Lightning? Yes, yes, of course!" they remembered now. The sharp, stabbing pains and convulsions... They bared their teeth in a small snarl. "That's gonna be the next thing I'll learn."

They paused to listen as Pride spoke of the goose's 'hostage'- the weasel's tail flicking. Another thrill of horror ran through them as Pride seemed to hint at taking action themselves. They couldn't help tightening their grip on the top of Pride's head. "...Let's think about it, first. We'll need to make it foolproof. We can't risk having my kingdom wiped out- no-one would ever follow me again!" The weasel shrilled, trying to sound kingly. In the meantime, they needed to divert Pride's attention. Perhaps they could do something else. Reluctantly, Envy let out a breath, lowering their voice. "...how about I take you to that ancient Gembound? The one who taught me to fly?" They sucked in their breath. "At least then we can... maybe have a getaway plan."

When I speak.

When I think.

________________

@Pride

Pride remained silent for a very long moment, tolerating his tiny king aboard his head.

It wasn't clear what he was thinking. He gave no sign of it--no sound, no twitch, no words to explain. Instead, after quite a long pause, he at last spoke--his voice utterly void of any emotion. It was matter-of-fact, brisk; not enthusiastic, but nor did it sound disappointed or in any way upset. It was just... blank, if, as always, quite polite.

"Of course, King Envy. Which way are we heading?"

Pride lifted one hoof, ready to move--quiet and not asking anything further of the report he had given, or of Envy's thoughts upon it.

@Envy

Envy's ears twitched. They took a moment to consider their choice to take Pride to the ancients and remember the way, before finally dropping to all fours. They leaned down over one of those snowy white brows so that Pride could see them, and then gestured with a tiny limb out of the throne room. "Out that way, and then down," they said, uncertain of how properly to describe the way to the Forum except as they came to the turns.

The weasel was nervous to go; they wondered if the Three Kings would recognize them, or celebrate their own tiny crown or whether they'd be disdainful. Their belly tightened with preemptive rage. So Envy decided to make conversation on the way. "I... followed your advice and went to see the rest of my Kingdom. I tried to find out what they wanted here," the King said cautiously, trying to hide their nervousness, and hoping that Pride wouldn't sniff at them for following the idea of one of their underlings. It was their choice, after all.

When I speak.

When I think.

________________

@Pride

Pride stepped along to Envy's instructions, his irritation, his anger, his suspicion at the redirection completely hidden. He turned his mind loyally, instead--dutifully--to the weasel's words.

"That is wise, my king," he began, voice still utterly, blankly polite. "To know the desires and the fears of your people will allow you to predict them, and to meet some of their needs. They will be loyal to you if you do so." He wondered to himself, quietly, if the weasel would ever bother asking Pride what he wanted. He doubted it, since Envy seemed outright afraid of battle, and likely assumed (partly rightly, if so) that this is what he wished. Or perhaps Envy already knew this, and felt they had no reason to ask?

Pride continued onward, winding his way through Orion's ruins. As he did so, he spoke again. "So what is it that they each wish? Or are these secrets, of a sort?" He would not press, if their desires were meant only for the ears of their King--but if not, he was curious.

And who knew; maybe he'd be able to help.

@Envy

Envy nodded, feeling their nervousness calming slightly at the coolness of the deer's words. Pride's words provided validation that helped to encourage them. "Yes, yes, yes. I think they appreciated it. Most of them." Envy noted with a twitch of their spines and a pit forming in their stomach as they thought of Lust. But they tried to shrug it off, as always, like the good king they were.

Pride's question helped to distract them, and brought a little twitch of excitement as they settled back into place between Pride's antlers. "Some of them have been bored. Wrath has. Gluttony suggested holding a... gathering. Some kind of get-together where the Seven can meet and get closer to one another. Gluttony said that food would be a... good idea." Envy sucked in their breath, holding it for a moment as though struggling to come to terms with the idea, and continued.

"And Amazon would like to see the caves before she... she..." They hesitated, but the implication was there. Amazon was dying, although they tried to convince themselves, and her, otherwise. "...Leaves us for good. I said I'd take her. I taught her how to feel better, last time, but... it wasn't enough." Envy wondered if, if they hadn't died themselves and been reborn, they would be following suit. They certainly felt better.

"And we have another new one, too. Sirius. I found him at his chrysalis."

When I speak.

When I think.

________________

@Pride

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