ORIGIN

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Pride glanced somewhat irritably at Envy, his patience already wearing back away. That was what he got for such a reasonable explanation? Protest, argument?

"...Of course, my King. Naturally. I simply say it for future reference," he replied smoothly, after taking a moment to ensure no anger would enter his tone. Caves, but Envy could be frustrating!

He looked back, then, to the dragon looming overhead. "I appreciate your discretion in who you, and do not eat, and why. I would prefer you do not consume--or kill--the one known as Huckleberry, either. A... small deer-like creature, brown, winged." Pride exhaled, shaking his head ever-so-slightly.

"Will he remain here, King Envy, or are you having him circle the caves now and then? I must admit, it is a terribly lucky find. We are lucky to have him on our side."

Assuming, he thought wryly, that it does not turn on us the moment it gets hungry.

Dread listened, tossing aside the last of the deer's fur and looking down at the pair.

When Envy said that they also cast fire, he inhaled deeply. He nearly choked on it, but quickly scuttled forward farther on the throne, leaning down and--quite abruptly--blasting a flamethrower-gout of dragonfire down toward the two. It wouldn't anywhere near reach them, but it was quite an impressive display nonetheless.

"MY fire," Dread snapped, as if staking claim over the best fire in all the caves, anywhere, period. With narrowed eyes he turned again, clambering up higher again, looking around. Apparently, he was territorial over his magic type.

With his apparent dominance (or lack thereof) declared, he settled himself to keeping watch once more.

He didn't answer Pride's question--probably because it was aimed at Envy--but he didn't seem to care, one way or another.

@Envy

Envy nodded, relieved, relaxed by Pride's response. Their quills lowered slightly. They were satiated that their excuse had been noted. They looked up at the dragon as he started to cast his magic, and almost immediately their fur and spines were on end again.

Envy flinched, watching with awe and disgust as the dragon breathed a bout of fire past them, and nearly choked themselves on their jealousy. Such fire- they'd never seen anyone make it like that before. They'd only been able to make hot air, and superheat the stomach fluids that would otherwise be useless to them. The weasel covered their eyes and washed their face with their paws, easing their eyes of the brightness and the smoke.

They had to have it.

The weasel's tail twitched as they committed the image of the fire to their memory, and made a note to learn it later. They tried to look unimpressed, though the bony tip of their tail tapped against the ground with eager impatience. "Yes, yes! That will be useful!" the weasel told the dragon. Then they turned to Pride. "I was thinking he could sit by the entrance to the Throne Room. So he can see who's coming in and out. Maybe circle now and then so that we can see who's coming." They paused, then puffed up hopefully. "What do you think?"

Speech. Thought.

@Pride

Pride considered, briefly.

"It might be best to keep him close by, if you mean these... crumbled walls, yes. And if I find something coming from the tunnels, I will send up white fire or the like, hmm? Then send him, and come yourself, if you can, because it means we are likely under attack." For all his words of defenses and counterattacks, though--and for that matter, for the presence of a dragon--the stag did not seem to be all that alarmed, or even tense, anymore.

Perhaps the act of preparations, just in case, had lifted a weight from the stag; or perhaps he was simply covering all possibilities, despite not really thinking them to be likelihoods.

Regardless of his inner thoughts, Pride inclined his head to Envy.

"Shall I get back to it, then?"

@Envy

"Yes, yes! that's right!" the weasel said, sounding pleased. They nodded vigorously as Pride described a signal to tell the dragon to attack, and grinned. "Sounds good! Nothing's going to be taking us by surprise! It's gonna be great!" They couldn't wait to see who arrived! they couldn't wait to see how big the Seven got!

It seemed that the weasel, too, had gotten wind of Pride's improvement in mood- however subconsciously- and they allowed themselves to get excited- not for the festivities themselves- but for the ensuing growth they were certain their kingdom would see.

The weasel seemed lost in daydreams as Pride spoke again. Finally they looked up. They nodded. "Yes, yes, of course! We should prepare! Now that we have the dragon, we should start soon! I'm sure the Kingdom won't be far behind."

The weasel was still perched atop Pride's back- but as they spoke the weasel began to gather their magic for a spectacular display. The weasel sucked in their breath and their wings and small horns burst into being- the small, long creature rose from Pride's back in a flurry and fluttered back towards the Throne, where they alighted beneath their newly appointed royal guard. The weasel then sat, watching Pride with visible excitement in the moments before their wings faded away.

They grinned, the very picture of royal relaxation.

This is gonna be great!

-exit Envy-

Speech. Thought.

@Dread

The dragon lifted his head from where he'd rested it, watching the display as Envy lifted up on magical wings once more and swept to take their place at the throne.

He didn't care, much, but it was flashy enough to watch, nonetheless--it put him in mind of his shiny stones.

Thus reminded of his current collection, he clutched his talons tighter over the rocks, and then lowered his head again. His ember eyes remained open and watchful, but his body still where it curled over the throne's tall and crumbled back.

exit Dread

Pride flicked an ear, and then swept into a low bow. His mind was half returning, already, to his work--to guarding the tunnel alongside that strangely-silent black horse. The other half of him, though, was worried about this dragon.

It struck him that it might just decide to eat Envy quite at random--or any of the other Seven, or even all of them. It certainly didn't seem particularly friendly. He'd turned to go, already, but now he paused with a hoof in the air, subtly gathering magicka to try for a moment to listen in on Dread's thoughts.

For a moment, he'd thought it failed--then he realized, with some surprise, that the link was there. Words, however, were not. There aren't any. He couldn't help but glance back and up; this was the first time he'd experienced such a thing. Most beings had at least a background chatter, but this one's mind was a grumbling sort of quiet, currently, its thoughts flashing images--animalistic, like the lessers--of shiny stones and the taste of meat. It was content, though, from what he could tell--and had sort of a patiently dutiful mood. It was indulged, and would indulge Envy in turn, and Pride relaxed a little as he realized that it wasn't likely to turn on them.

Then a few thoughts did come, though nothing particularly eloquent--a random scattering of "I wonder where that deer came from" and "I'll hunt when I'm done here." It seemed, he noted, particularly fixated upon food.

"Call if you need me. My King," Pride said as he turned again, his tone respectful.

He pushed the dragon from his mind and focused on the tunnel mouth instead, on the stone he'd shored up there and on other methods of attack, and defense, and...

exit Pride

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Pride

Dread

Livius

Pride

Livius

Dread

Pride